Man Accused Of Raping Restaurant Employee

HARTFORD — A man accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a worker at his son's restaurant — some 50 times in all — was arraigned in Superior Court Monday.

Manuel "Willy" Heredia, 63, of Burlington, pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree sexual assault, 50 counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree harassment. He posted $200,000 bail and is being monitored electronically. His next court date is Jan. 15.

The woman was sexually assaulted nearly every shift she worked since she was hired months ago, according to the warrant for Heredia's arrest. Heredia would "grab her butt or breasts," she told police. The name of the restaurant was redacted from the police report.

Heredia once told her to come downstairs to the office, and when she did, he was "undoing his pants, exposing his penis," the warrant states.

Another day, in July, Heredia called her in early to help clean. She went in early and only Heredia was there, she told police. After 20 minutes of cleaning, he "pulled her into the middle of the restaurant and began forcibly removing her clothes" and forced himself on her, the warrant states.

Not knowing what to do, she got dressed and went back to cleaning, crying while she did so, she told police. Heredia kicked her out.

The woman told a bartender and the restaurant's owner, but the owner told her the police wouldn't do anything, the warrant states.